Ships' logs give clues to Earth's magnetic decline

New Scientist ^ | May 11, 2006 | Patrick Berry

[Crazieman]

Ships' logs give clues to Earth's magnetic decline 19:00 11 May 2006 NewScientist.com news service Patrick Barry

The voyages of Captain Cook have just yielded a new discovery: the gradual weakening of Earth’s magnetic field is a relatively recent phenomenon. The discovery has led experts to question whether the Earth is on track towards a polarity reversal.

By sifting through ships’ logs recorded by Cook and other mariners dating back to 1590, researchers have greatly extended the period over which the behaviour of the magnetic field can be studied. The data show that the current decline in Earth's magnetism was virtually negligible before 1860, but has accelerated since then.

Until now, scientists had only been able to trace the magnetic field’s behaviour back to 1837, when Carl Friedrich Gauss invented the first device for measuring the field directly.

The field’s strength is now declining at a rate that suggests it could virtually disappear in about 2000 years. Researchers have speculated that this ongoing change may be the prelude to a magnetic reversal, during which the north and south magnetic pole swap places.

But the weakening trend could also be explained by a growing magnetic anomaly in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and may not be the sign of a large scale polarity reversal, the researchers suggest.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Depends.

The current "position" of the north magnetic pole is very, very rapidly moving away from north Canada up and across the Arctic. It's rate of movement is much more rapid now than at any time since it was first measured.

Symptomatic of SOMETHING changing.

But, of course,it's America's (Bush's) fault.

And San Andreus' Fault. 8<)

[Robert A Cook PE]

Notice how the magnetic pole data on this site looks so strangely similar to the global warming data.


http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/long_mvt_nmp2_e.php

[Tolkien]

Well, since right is wrong and wrong is right, North is South and South is North. North America is letting in so many South Americans, we North Americans can now move to South America, fix their screwed up governments and when the poles flip again, yada yada yada..... Never mind.

[From The Deer Stand]

You mean when I'm lost in the wood my compass that says North may really be West, or South if it says East, or North if it says South,or ......

[mountn man]

what would happen in a pole reversal?

Bush would be at a 70% approval rating?

[genefromjersey]

I am (to my continuing regret) a "New Scientist" subscriber.When the magazine comes, I scrape off the mailing label, and put it in the "donate to library" pile.

[mikrofon]

The data show that the current decline in Earth's magnetism was virtually negligible before 1860, but has accelerated since then.

Not just Bush, but the data conclusively shows that it goes back to the start of the GOP...

[Onelifetogive]

a magnetic reversal, during which the north and south magnetic pole swap places.

The earth is bi-polar? I'm thinking aerial spraying of Zoloft.

[Onelifetogive]

what would happen in a pole reversal?

[little jeremiah]

Good. I like mangoes.

[tophat9000]

Not just Bush, but the data conclusively shows that it goes back to the start of the GOP

I don't think so ...it so clear to me now...

"GOP"... Global Obliteration of Polarity!...

It a true dark evil conspiracy....

Soon to be heard on DU, Daily Kos, The Daily Show, etc, etc, etc.

[SE Mom]

I'm still laughing at your post:)

[Lurker]

Oh you laugh now...but you won't be laughing when:

This guy comes to town.

Who ya gonna call?

L

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Who ya gonna call?

[Lurker]

Or "Reversing Orbital Vectors of Electromagnetism".

Coincidence?

I THINK NOT!!

L

[SE Mom]

Won't it be...who's gonna call me?

[Lurker]

Trust me ma'am. If the magnetic poles of the planet reverse I promise to call you.

But I think I'll have to dial your number in reverse or the call won't go through. Maybe I could ping 'MoM ES' as well, just to be on the safe side of things.

That should base all my covers....nmad...s'ti gnineppah ydaederla...!!NUR!!NUR !!YDOBYREVE

L

[Thinkin' Gal]

The voyages of Captain Cook have just yielded a new discovery:...

He was cooked in huli huli sauce and tasted like chicken?

[grjr21]

Big problems

The United States would then be in the Southern Hemisphere.
Everyone knows that only Third world countries reside South of the Equator:~)

[tophat9000]

Or "Reversing Orbital Vectors of Electromagnetism". Coincidence?

Yes Yes it the Grand Updated order of the old Illuminati for the 21 Century ....The Electro-mag-not-ie